Improvement in hand-protectors



JOHN TURNBULL.

lm'provemfgnt` in Hand Protectors.V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TURNB'ULL, OF SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-PROTECTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,974, dated December19, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN TURNBULL, of Sims bury, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulHand-Protector; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, whereby a person skilled in theart can make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters in the figures indicate the same parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for protecting the handfrom being chafed or cut by a twine or string while passing through itin the operation of tying up tobacco to the rails upon which it iscured, or in any other similar employment in which a cord of any kindisrequired to be drawn tight and loosened by hand.

In the operation of tying up tobacco the stalks are successively placedagainst a longitudinal rail and lashed to it by a twine reaching fromone to another and passing around the stalk and rail. On drawing up thecord the hand soon becomes chafed, and a thick glove is usually worn forprotection.

My invention consists in a hollow handle, through which the cord ispassed, and which is furnished with a griping or holding device operatedby pressure upon the handle, so that when the hand is forcibly closed soas to grasp the handle the cord is held from slipping through it and theknot or loop can be drawn tight, and when the pressure of the hand isreleased the cord can again slip easily through the handle.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudin al section through the middle of the handle. Fig. 3 is a View ofthe lower end of the handle. Fig. lis a crosssec tion through thegriping mechanism.

a is the body of the handle, which has a hole,

Y b, through it from end to end for the passage of the cord or twine c.On one side of the handle ais a movable block, d, which shuts into it,turning on the hinge c. At the rear end of the block a spring, f,presses it upward to keep it shut i11- to the handle. On the outer sideof the block d is a dat curved plate, g, for pressing the block inwardby the action of the hand when grasping the handle. At the forward endof this block is a roller, h, between the two cheeks i i, through whichits axis passes. The piece t' fi, forming the support for the roller, ispivoted to the block at 7', so as to permit of a slight motion to adjustitself to pass into the proper position between two pins or studs, k 7c,iirmly riveted into the handle. Under the plate g, at the rear end, is aknife, l, the use of which will be hereinafter described. It is placedso that a cord introduced between the plate and the block d will beforced against the edge of the blade.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the string or cord ispassed through the handle it lies between the two pins 7c k and theroller h, so as to pass freely when the plate g is not pressed by thehand. The spring f is of sufcient tension to just hold the roller incontact with the cord. When the handle is grasped firmly by the hand soas to press against the plate g, the block d is forced inward, and theroller hJ enters between the two pins k h and squeezes the cord so as tohold it firmly and prevent its being drawn through the handle. Thisposition is shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

When my invention is in use and it is desired to allow the cord to runthrough the hand it is held lightly, offering no impediment to itspassage. But when it is desired to draw upon the cord, for the purposeof fastening it by a loop or tying a knot, the natural action of thehand in grasping the handle more rmly holds the cord and secures it inthe handle. f

In tying up tobacco, when the workman has arrived at the end of a railhe can cut the cord by means of the knife l. This knife also servesanotherilnportant purpose When the handle is left hanging to the cordtemporarily it might fall off if not carefully laid down, so that thecord could not pull through. By taking the end, however, and hooking itloosely under the blade, it is firmly held from slipping out andallowing the handle to fall. p

Other means of griping the cord can be adapted to my invention besidesthe roller and pins shown in the drawing. Anything that sufcientlycompresses the cord to hold it firmly without slipping when the handleis compressed can be used.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The hand-protecting device for holding and manipulating a cord,substantially as herein described.

2. The combination of a hollow handle With a griping device for holdingor releasing a cord by the pressure of the hand, substantially as hereinset forth.

3. The combination of a hollow handle with a griping device and a knife7substantially in the manner herein described.

JOHN TURNBULL.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. ELLIS,

BEN. O. COOKE. (63)

